Change in Associate Membership Criteria
Anyone who has participated in an experiential group relations conference or equivalent educational event offered by AKRI, its Affiliates, or such other organizations identified with group relations work that the Board may recognize is now eligible for membership as an Associate of AKRI. A recent amendment to the AKRI Bylaws changed the previous requirement of attendance at a residential conference. The details about the membership criteria and the votes on the amendment, follow.
August 04, 2008
Change in Associate Membership Criteria and other Amendments to Bylaws - Nancy Wilson, Vice President, AKRI Board Member
At its March, 2008 meeting, the AKRI Board considered a number of possible changes in criteria for membership in AKRI, believing that broadening and expanding membership in our group relations organization would enhance our educational mission. Some of these options were presented and discussed at the recent AKRI Symposium. Afterwards, the Board reviewed the range of options and the input and reactions gathered at the Symposium, in both formal and informal settings. The Board voted unanimously to change the requirement of attendance at a residential conference to attendance at an experiential group relations conference or equivalent event. The proposed change in criteria was submitted to the AKRI membership for ratification – this required a 2/3 majority of votes cast. In total 58 ballots were received - 48 in favor; 9 against; 1 abstaining. The amended section of the bylaws regarding membership is included below. There were no substantive changes made to membership in the Friend category.
Section 3.01 There are two categories of membership in AKRI: Associate and Friend.
(a) Associate. Membership as an Associate is open to anyone who has participated in an experiential group relations conference or equivalent educational event offered by AKRI, its Affiliates, or such other organizations identified with group relations work that the Board may recognize. Equivalent experiential activities may include, but are not limited to, group relations events which are components of coursework in educational institutions, workshops, and similar programs.
Associates shall pay dues as determined by the Board of Directors. Only Associates shall have the right to vote, hold office, serve on the Board of Directors as Internal Directors or as President, chair an AKRI committee, or present motions or resolutions at meetings
(b) Friend. Membership as a Friend is open to persons interested in the mission and activities of AKRI who have not attended an experiential event as described in (a).
Friends shall pay dues as determined by the Board of Directors and shall have the right to attend AKRI meetings and serve on AKRI Committees.
It may be that some of you reading this are now are eligible to join AKRI as Associates because you meet the new membership criteria. We would welcome your application and encourage you to apply. For more information, you may contact the AKRI office at akriceinstitute@aol.com or by phone at 360-539-5869.
In addition to the Bylaws amendment regarding criteria for membership, another amendment passed concerning ways that a vote of the membership of AKRI may be taken. In total, 67 votes were cast – 63 in favor; 4 against, 0 abstaining. Previously a vote of the membership could be taken either at a meeting or by mail ballot. The amendment expands this as follows – only section (c) was changed.
Section 3.02.Voting.
(a) Whenever a vote of the Associates is prescribed by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws, each Associate in good standing shall be entitled to one vote. Decisions of the Associates, other than bylaws amendments and recall votes, shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast.
(b) The record date for determining Associates in good standing and entitled to vote shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
(c) A vote of the Associates may be conducted by mail ballot, e-mail voting, web-based voting, in person at a meeting of the Associates, or in such other manner as prescribed by the Board of Directors.
As always, if you have questions, comments, or issues to discuss about these changes, please contact the AKRI office, the Board, or visit the Discussion Forum section of this web site.
June 26, 2008
AKRI leadership change: letter from Leigh Estabrook, AKRI President
I write to inform you that Executive Director Sandra Burnett will be leaving her position effective July 4, 2008. Appointed in 2006, Sandra was AKRI’s first Executive Director and did much to help AKRI move to a new stage of development.
The Institute is fortunate that Dr. Betsy Hasegawa, an AKRI Associate living in Bellingham, Washington, has accepted the position of Interim Executive Director, effective July 5, 2008. Dr. Hasegawa has been a member of AKRI (and the Washington-Baltimore Center) since 1996, and has been involved in Group Relations work - in one form or another - since her first conference experience (at J F Kennedy School of Government) as a graduate student in 1992. Betsy is also serving a three year term on the AKRI Training and Certification Committee. She has been a Lecturer in the College of Business and Economics, Department of Management, at Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA since 2004. Dr. Hasegawa received her Ed. D. (2003) from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
In addition to taking leadership in helping identify potential candidates for the ED position, Betsy will work to continue the national and international collaborations Sandra began. She will also be working to increase communication and collaboration between AKRI and its Affiliates and Associates and will be looking to you to work with her.
AKRI Program Director Mary Colton will continue in her role, expanding her hours to full time. Her knowledge of AKRI’s various administrative procedures promises to make the transitions go smoothly.
I hope you will join the Board and me in thanking Sandra for her work and wishing her well in her next ventures.
May 2, 2008
Announcing the latest AKRI Fellows
The AKRI board of directors is pleased to recognize the following individuals as the newest additions to the Fellows of the A.K. Rice Institute for the Study of Social Systems. They have been designated as AKRI Fellows in recognition of the significant and enduring contributions of these individuals to the work of AKRI and to the field of group relations.
Sarah J. Brazaitis, Ph.D.
Beverly L. Malone, Ph.D., RN, FAAN
Mary B. McRae, Ed.D.
For detail on their contributions to AKRI, click here. Visit AKRI Fellows for a complete listing of Fellows designated by the A.K. Rice Institute since its inception.
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